1
2
as in to shift
to change one's position
the cat stirred, then opened its eyes and slowly got to its feet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to provoke
to rouse to strong feeling or action
news coverage of the fire stirred many to send donations to a fund for the families who had lost their homes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
the plane's first jolt caused a stir among the passengers, and by the third one they were in a panic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shifting
the act or an instance of changing position
we were warned that the slightest stir would scare the mother bird so we hardly dared to breathe
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in jail
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
the mule had just got out of stir and was being followed by the feds, who had their sights set on the kingpin of the operation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stir
Mary Ann Esposito, Boston Herald, 18 Mar. 2026
But Venezuela may have stirred anger among American baseball fans with its 3-2 victory on Tuesday.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Similarly, the larger guest list means there are more attendees up for causing a stir with their clothes.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stir
Verb
Lower the heat and when the mixture looks clear, remove it from the heat and stir in the liqueur.
—Mary Ann Esposito, Boston Herald, 18 Mar. 2026
But Venezuela may have stirred anger among American baseball fans with its 3-2 victory on Tuesday.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
Jackson, the current quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens, was seen as a possible candidate to switch from QB to wide receiver, but the mere suggestion of that caused a stir before he was drafted.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Similarly, the larger guest list means there are more attendees up for causing a stir with their clothes.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stir
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stir
Verb
-
The downtown bakery’s standby consists of country buttermilk dough swirled with kinako (roasted soybean powder) and sesame seeds.—
Mario Cortez,
San Francisco Chronicle,
19 Mar. 2026
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The contest stands in sharp contrast to the nation's last tumultuous Democratic Senate primary in Texas, when questions swirled about candidates' electability.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Former Work aide Greg Grant gave a detailed history of Obama-era efforts to shift Pentagon thinking to the Small Wars Journal.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
23 Mar. 2026
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But since Bush, nearly every president has shifted NASA’s goals, with budgets often not matching ambitions.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The previous supreme leader made the mistake of enriching uranium but never building a nuclear weapon; in effect, his nuclear program went far enough to provoke the West into sanctions and military strikes but not far enough to provide protection.—
Nicholas D. Kristof,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
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At work, Paige (Elle Chapman) punches a coworker who provokes her with truly unkind remarks about her father's death.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Shark Stratos is designed for true hands free maintenance, featuring a NeverTouch Base that handles everything from emptying the dustbin to washing and drying the mop pads.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Always wash before peeling to avoid dragging surface residue into the flesh.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As the calendar moves toward spring, the old feeling of hope and exuberance spreads across the country, and it's mostly felt by college basketball fans.—
Josh Taylor,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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Coleman can play all the positions, so expect Steve Sarkisian to move him around to create advantageous matchups.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Rollicking Japanese City Pop era tunes from the ‘80s and ‘90s keep energy levels up; on Sundays, off-duty geiko or maiko may be sitting at a cozy banquette nearby—they’re given a discount to encourage a local patronage, too.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Mar. 2026
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Looking ahead, the town is also encouraging residents to reduce water use long term by replacing traditional turf grass with more drought-resistant landscaping.—
Jamie Leary,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Add cheese mixture a handful at a time, whisking until melted and sauce is smooth after each addition.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
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In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt until evenly combined.—
Monti Carlo,
AJC.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The cream also contains peptides to calm irritation and stimulate collagen and elastin production, and vitamin C for antioxidant protection.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Naboso was developed by a podiatrist and uses texture on all products to stimulate the feet, improving overall foot awareness, foot strength and aiding in recovery.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stir. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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